Former Wolverhampton mayor quits Lib Dems to join Ukip

The long-serving councillor, who has represented Spring Vale since 1990 and served as mayor from 2010 to 2011, accused his former party of having 'forgotten about the people'.

His defection comes just hours before Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg faces Ukip's Nigel Farage in a second televised debate on the European Union.

Mr Farage welcomed Councillor Gwinnett to Ukip today, saying: "Malcolm is not only a former mayor but has proven himself to have great fighting spirit too, having undergone an urgent heart transplant in 2012 and battling his way back to fitness. It also goes to show that we really are attracting members from across the political spectrum."

Councillor Gwinnett said the Liberal Democrats were not in tune with local people on issues such as immigration and high speed rail. He also accused his colleagues in Wolverhampton of letting him down. He took over the leadership of the Lib Dem group on Wolverhampton City Council last May, when predecessor Mike Heap became deputy mayor. But Councillor Gwinnett then found himself de-selected by the party for the upcoming elections.

Councillor Gwinnett said: “They broke an agreement that they would not do the selection until September when I had the all clear from the hospital."

Councillor Gwinnett's defection leaves the Liberal Democrats with just two councillors on Wolverhampton City Council, both of whom also represent Spring Vale.

Ricky Tee

martyn.griffiths.712

A BIG WELCOME TO A GREAT COUNCILLOR INTO U K I P WE OFFER THE BEST CHANCE OF CHANGE IN OUR CITY BY PUTTING BRITAIN FIRST AND SPENDING THE BILLIONS WASTED ON THE E U IN CITIES LIKE OURS.

RATHER THAN STRASBOURG. 54 million quid each and every day wasted on the socialist undemocratic E U expriment that has failed but is still supported by the Tories .Lib Dems and Labour who do not TRUST US THE BRITISH PEOPLE TO HAVE A REFERENDUM

oldrocker

April 3, 2014 1:28 pm

From an internet site on 'Netiquette'.

Don’t type in all capital letters

Typing in all capital letters on the Internet is considered rude because it is difficult to read and comes across as very aggressive (LIKE SHOUTING!). If you take away nothing from this ‘how-to’ other than knowing that typing in “caps” is widely despised on the Internet, consider it time well spent.

andyinstoke

PJW Holland

April 2, 2014 11:23 am

Wise move for Mr. Gwinnett. He has now escaped his own death and also the imminent (final) demise of his old party. A rebirth into a new vital force in the world of politics. Let's face it. The voters are going in that direction. The politicians might as well join them.

Elliot5

oh_dearie_me

April 2, 2014 2:56 pm

Yes, hard to see anything else in this move, other than a cynical attempt to keep his seat. UKIP going up (supposedly) and Lib Dems going down (supposedly). I think he should have got the views of the voters first but then again they can deliver their verdict at the ballot box very shortly.

Anyone who seriously expects UKIP to be much different from all the others is probably suffering from blue skies thinking. They can say what they like now - I doubt very much of it would come true if they got elected. And a withdrawal from the EU (or even a renegotiation of terms) would be as far away as ever. But I guess you can fool some of the people all of the time......etc etc etc.

funny old world

nile_griffith

April 2, 2014 4:21 pm

Lord save us from this cancer that is professional politicians!! Yes Mr Gwinnett, you have made the right choice. Change teams while you at least still have a few chips in your hand to bargain with. Your somewhat "look at me" statement might just be enough to pacify the elderly or befuddled, but for most of the electorate of Wolverhampton it just wreaks of one more snout trying to keep it's place in the trough.